Why you should care about WebViews
As you might know, I’m currently working with the W3C WebView Community Group on the website caniwebview.com, and I’d like to give you a little backstory on what it is and what else we are doing.
What is a WebView and Why Should You Care?
If you’ve ever used an app that opens a link, you’ve almost certainly interacted with a WebView—whether you realized it or not. WebViews are embedded web browsers used inside apps to display web content without switching to a standalone browser. They power a wide range of experiences, from reading an article in a social media app to processing payments or login flows. And yet, despite their importance, WebViews often fly under the radar of developers and users alike.
It’s time we change that.
The Silent Backbone of Modern Apps
WebViews are a key technology for app developers. They allow developers to leverage the power and versatility of the web within the context of their native apps, providing a seamless experience for users. WebViews are not just used for embedding bits of web content into native apps—they can also be the foundation of entire hybrid apps. Tools like Apache Cordova and Capacitor allow developers to build full-featured apps using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, all running inside a WebView. This use case presents a unique set of feature requests and challenges for WebView vendors that are often overlooked.
However, while WebViews simplify a lot for app developers, they also bring their own set of challenges compared to browsers. Web standards compatibility and feature support can vary significantly across platforms and versions. This inconsistency can make it difficult for developers to ensure that their web content functions smoothly in every environment. The reality is that not all WebViews are created equal, and understanding these differences is crucial for delivering a high-quality user experience.
Compatibility: The Elephant in the Room
One of the biggest challenges with WebViews is compatibility. Unlike standalone browsers, which tend to update more regularly, WebViews may be tied to specific OS versions or app updates. This can lead to inconsistent support for modern web APIs and features, meaning that content that works perfectly in Chrome or Safari might not work as expected inside a WebView.
This fragmentation can be frustrating for developers trying to create consistent, modern web experiences. Without careful consideration and testing, you may find that your app’s embedded web content is broken or you might get frustrated because web features you really need are not available in WebView. Fortunately, there are tools available now to help navigate this landscape.
Enter caniwebview.com
To help developers understand what works where, caniwebview.com provides a valuable resource. Similar to the well-known “Can I Use” site for browsers, caniwebview.com details which web features are supported across different WebView environments. Caniwebview is still relatively new and a work in progress, using data from various sources to provide information about WebView compatibility. Currently, automated web features data from Open Web Docs is available, but in the future, we plan to include documentation on behavioral features and differences as well. We welcome contributions to help us achieve this goal.
The W3C WebView Community Group
Ensuring that WebViews get the attention they deserve is not just about understanding compatibility; it’s also about collaboration. The WebView Community Group is working to make WebViews more predictable and developer-friendly. By bringing together voices from across the field—including developers, browser vendors, and platform maintainers—this group aims to standardize and improve the WebView experience. We also aim to create visibility for WebViews among web standards experts and web developers. This is one reason why I’m writing this post.
If you’ve ever faced headaches with broken WebView functionality or struggled to understand the quirks of different platforms, the WebView Community Group is a place where your voice can make a difference. By contributing to this community, you can help push for improvements that will benefit everyone working with the embedded web.
Why You Should Care
WebViews are more than just a bridge between native and web—they are a critical component of many digital user experiences today. Understanding their quirks and how to overcome their challenges is key to delivering high-quality, seamless apps that users love. By paying attention to WebView compatibility, leveraging resources like caniwebview.com, and supporting initiatives like the WebView Community Group, we can build a better, more consistent web for everyone.
So, next time you think about web compatibility, don’t forget about WebViews. They might not always be in the spotlight, but they deserve a place in every developer’s toolkit.